Westward. Encounters with Swiss American Women

“…, but I also had the feeling of truly being Swiss.” With her parents at Dübendorf airport… (1952)

After graduation from Vassar College, Margot began her medical studies in New York Medical College. “A whole new world opened up for me, and soon my goal turned from research to practicing medicine. I had observed that internists were prone to long discussions about medications and electrocardiograms and as I preferred to see some action, I aimed to become a surgeon.” After graduation in 1949, she continued her training in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This was the ideal field for females to practice. It was less popular for the men, who often were uncomfortable in dealing with women’s problems and emotions. Her parents were considering retirement in Switzerland. So after her required training as intern and resident she worked in the Woman’s Hospital in St.Gallen, Switzerland. “With this I not only acquired further experience, but I also had the feeling of truly being Swiss. On weekends I was able to enjoy visiting various parts of Switzerland. Then my parents’ plans to retire to Switzerland were changed once again when father received an offer for one more irresistible project, the construction of the Verrazano Bridge in NY. With a newly established love for the homeland of my parents, I returned to New York.”